NEWS & EVENTS

Drawing on his experience as Japanese Minister of Economic and Fiscal Policy (2001-2005), and Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications (2005-2006), working closely in the latter post with current Prime Minister Suga, Takenaka outlined several of Suga’s emerging priorities, including, digitalization; sectionalism-reducing administrative reform; achieving sharp reduction in carbon emissions; and investing in super cities. He also stressed the need for PM Suga to achieve small, early successes to sustain his high current level of public support, since Suga does not enjoy the backing of a major LDP faction.

In responding to questions, Takenaka situated Japan’s economic policies in the context of US-Japan relations and the COVID-19 pandemic. He identified four potential areas of future trans-Pacific cooperation: cyber security; “data free flow with trust”; balance-sheet adjustment; and a role for Japan as “rule shaper”. Reischauer Center Director Kent Calder, a colleague of Dr. Takenaka at Harvard University in the early 1980s, moderated the question session following Dr. Takenaka’s lecture.